Imperfect refractive index matching in scanning laser optical tomography and a method for digital correction

verfasst von: Ole Hill, Merve Wollweber, Tobias Biermann, Tammo Ripken, Roland Lachmayer
Abstract: Significance: Scanning laser optical tomography (SLOT) is a volumetric multi-modal imaging technique that is comparable to optical projection tomography and computer tomography. Image quality is crucially dependent on matching the refractive indexes (RIs) of the sample and surrounding medium, but RI matching often requires some effort and is never perfect. Aim: Reducing the burden of RI matching between the immersion medium and sample in biomedical imaging is a challenging and interesting task. We aim at implementing a post processing strategy for correcting SLOT measurements that have errors caused by RI mismatch. Approach: To better understand the problems with poorly matched Ris, simulated SLOT measurements with imperfect RI matching of the sample and medium are performed and presented here. A method to correct distorted measurements was developed and is presented and evaluated. This method is then applied to a sample containing fluorescent polystyrene beads and a sample made of olydimethylsiloxane with embedded fluorescent nanoparticles. Results: From the simulations, it is evident that measurements with an RI mismatch larger than 0.02 and no correction yield considerably worse results compared to perfectly matched measurements. RI mismatches larger than 0.05 make it almost impossible to resolve finer details and structures. By contrast, the simulations imply that a measurement with an RI mismatch of up to 0.1 can still yield reasonable results if the presented correction method is applied. The experiments validate the simulated results for an RI mismatch of about 0.09. Conclusions: The method significantly improves the SLOT image quality for samples with imperfectly matched Ris. Although the absolutely best imaging quality will be achieved with perfect RI matching, these results pave the way for imaging in SLOT with RI mismatches while maintaining high image quality.
Organisationseinheit(en): Institut für Quantenoptik
Externe Organisation(en): Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH)
Typ: Artikel
Journal: Journal of biomedical optics
Band: 29
Anzahl der Seiten: 15
ISSN: 1083-3668
Publikationsdatum: 15.05.2024
Publikationsstatus: Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed: Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete: Elektronische, optische und magnetische Materialien, Biomaterialien, Atom- und Molekularphysik sowie Optik, Biomedizintechnik
Elektronische Version(en): https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.29.6.066004 (Zugang: Offen)

BibTeX

@article{190430b75b974798be5f20304a3e5633,
title = "Imperfect refractive index matching in scanning laser optical tomography and a method for digital correction",
abstract = "Significance: Scanning laser optical tomography (SLOT) is a volumetric multi-modal imaging technique that is comparable to optical projection tomography and computer tomography. Image quality is crucially dependent on matching the refractive indexes (RIs) of the sample and surrounding medium, but RI matching often requires some effort and is never perfect. Aim: Reducing the burden of RI matching between the immersion medium and sample in biomedical imaging is a challenging and interesting task. We aim at implementing a post processing strategy for correcting SLOT measurements that have errors caused by RI mismatch. Approach: To better understand the problems with poorly matched Ris, simulated SLOT measurements with imperfect RI matching of the sample and medium are performed and presented here. A method to correct distorted measurements was developed and is presented and evaluated. This method is then applied to a sample containing fluorescent polystyrene beads and a sample made of olydimethylsiloxane with embedded fluorescent nanoparticles. Results: From the simulations, it is evident that measurements with an RI mismatch larger than 0.02 and no correction yield considerably worse results compared to perfectly matched measurements. RI mismatches larger than 0.05 make it almost impossible to resolve finer details and structures. By contrast, the simulations imply that a measurement with an RI mismatch of up to 0.1 can still yield reasonable results if the presented correction method is applied. The experiments validate the simulated results for an RI mismatch of about 0.09. Conclusions: The method significantly improves the SLOT image quality for samples with imperfectly matched Ris. Although the absolutely best imaging quality will be achieved with perfect RI matching, these results pave the way for imaging in SLOT with RI mismatches while maintaining high image quality.",
keywords = "digital microscopy, non-destructive, scanning laser optical tomography, tomography",
author = "Ole Hill and Merve Wollweber and Tobias Biermann and Tammo Ripken and Roland Lachmayer",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.",
year = "2024",
month = may,
day = "15",
doi = "10.1117/1.JBO.29.6.066004",
language = "English",
volume = "29",
journal = "Journal of biomedical optics",
issn = "1083-3668",
publisher = "SPIE",
number = "6",
}